KATHMANDU, March 29: The Technical Committee that was formed to facilitate the integration of Maoist combatants said it cannot complete integration within next three months, the deadline earlier set by Special Committee for Integration of Maoist Combatants (SCIMC). [break]
A meeting of the meeting Sunday morning decided to ask the special committee to consider extending the deadline for integration.
“Technically, it’s not possible to complete integration in next three months,” said a member of the team Indrajit Rai.
He said international experience says it takes at least one to two years to complete integration of state and rebel armies.
The meeting has also demanded perks and facilities for the members on par with members of the special committee.
“Since the Technical Committee is an extension of the special committee, the members of both the committees should have similar perks and facilities,” Rai argued.
The special committee last week formed an 8-member technical team to support the integration of 19,602 UN-verified Maoist combatants with the Nepal Army.
The committee comprises two members each from the three largest ruling parties and the main opposition Nepali Congress. Constituent Assembly members Dr Indrajit Rai and Barsha Man Pun represent the Unified Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist), CA member and former Nepal Army General Gopal Singh Bohara and Dipak Prakash Bhatta respectively represent CPN-UML and former senior police officer Sadananda Kurmi and Ramananda Mishra represent Madhesi Peoplee’s Rights Forum (MPRF) in the Technical Committee.
Nepali Congress has sent former Lieutenant General of Nepal Army Balananda Sharma and former ambassador Shambhu Ram Simkhada in the committee.